Interview with Nigel Freeman, FIDE Treasurer
Four years ago you became FIDE Treasurer, was the work what you expected?
The time I have spent has been much more than expected, I probably have to
spend about two hours of my free time most days on FIDE’s business. However,
I was lucky in that my predecessor, David Jarrett, who is now FIDE’s Executive
Director, left me with the accounts in good order.
Is there anything particular that you think you have achieved in the
four years?
I believe that the main achievements are that FIDE now pays its own way and
can pay the much higher budgeted amounts to Commissions, for instance, CACDEC
budgeted monies are up from EUR 84,000 in 2006 to EUR 200,000 in 2010; that
the debts are down with Federations now paying their arrears more speedily than
before; and that we try and ensure that no one in the FIDE Commissions has to
pay out of their own pockets for work done on FIDE’s behalf.
You are now standing for reelection on Kirsan Ilyumzhinov’s ticket,
do you have any comments on the elections so far?
The Karpov team strategy has been completely negative, which I find very disappointing.
I do not quite understand their strategy, which seems to have been to put everything
on winning in the Russian Federation and then when that did not succeed, going
to the law courts. They have come up with no concrete plans, just vague assertions,
many of which are not backed up with any facts and are highly damaging to the
reputation and the finances of the Organisation that they are trying to take
over. They obviously do not understand FIDE and how it works and their plans
for its future are in no way well thought or costed out. Particularly their
plan to have FIDE’s Head Office in Moscow and open offices in Paris and
the New York, the tax implications of which have obviously not been taken into
account.
Karpov has claimed FIDE is corrupt, what do you have to say about this?
He knows full well that this accusation is unsustainable and when questioned
in Sofia was unable to answer, but in their typical mean spirited way, they
have not formally withdrawn the claim. Our accounts are probably more open than
any other sporting body, they are examined by our own internal Verification
Commission and audited by Ernst & Young in Greece and Switzerland.
Karpov claims that EUR 400,000 is missing in 2008, what do you have to
say about that?
Because neither he, nor his advisors, appear to understand accounts, it took
me quite some time to understand what he is getting at. As it is the only figure
near this is the EUR 363,000 that income is higher than expenditure, I assume
that is what he is referring to. Of course the amount is not missing, it is
in FIDE’s bank accounts and shows prudent management.
He also says that Kirsan Ilyumzhinov did not put much money into chess
as he cannot find it in the accounts, do you have any comment on that?
He knows full well that most of the money went directly to the players as quite
a large percentage was sent to several of his bank accounts. All FIDE would
have in its accounts are the percentages paid to FIDE from various prizes.
Have you any comments on the fact that Karpov claims that too much money
is being spent on lawyers fees?
He has quite a nerve to say this as most of these fees were spent on law cases
involving his friends or himself and he now seems to be ensuring that this is
the case. Until recent events, the most expensive recent case was the Touze
and Belfort case. Much to the surprise of most of those attending, especially
the Germans and Americans who led the complaints, Karpov stated that he was
there the whole time and the organization was as good as the similar event that
he attended, though how he could compare the present World Youth events to those
of 1969 shows how out of touch he is. So, USCF and DSB, if you vote Karpov,
you get Touze! Another example of how out of touch he is that he keeps repeating
that our Athens Office is up some mountain in Greece, outside Athens. The FIDE
Office is so centrally situated in Athens that it would have been in downtown
Athens in Pericles’s time!
The New York Times quoted Kasparov as saying: "The treasurer [of
FIDE] is from Bermuda — and you can tell me what normally financial
consultants from Bermuda do.” Do you have any comments?
Well, I do not normally describe myself as a Financial Consultant, but in Bermuda,
they are well known for giving prudent advice and looking after their clients’
interests. In 2002 Kasparov approached me to assist in a project of his and
in the summer of 2003, he felt that the project was likely to be successful
and so asked me to come to Moscow at his expense to help finalise it. Unfortunately,
the project was not finalised and not only did Kasparov not thank me for assistance,
nor respond to any correspondence, he also failed to pay any of the expenses.
I certainly know what “normally ex-World Chess Champions of the 80s and
90s from Russia do.”
Do you have any final comments to make on the Elections?
Judging from the number of Federations openly supporting each candidate, it
looks likely that Kirsan Iyumzhinov’s ticket will win and Karpov’s
campaign does not seem to be progressing far in persuading Federations to support
him. Their task was made harder by their comments that small nations should
not have the same number of votes as large nations. It is like saying that because
I am wealthier or bigger than you, I should have more votes in a democratic
election than you. FIDE is made up of Federations, with each having one vote.
They do not seem to understand FIDE, nor want to understand FIDE. Their bringing
the FIDE Secretariat into matters shows that they fail to understand how FIDE
works or David Jarrett. When Karpov’s candidacy was announced, I received
an email from Ron Henley addressed to me hoping that the Jamaican (!) Chess
Federation would support Karpov’s candidacy. QED!
It’s a great number… 80 national federations
now support the “One World One Vision” team!
We welcome the support of the National Federations of Botswana, Slovakia, South
Africa, Uzbekistan, and Latvia! We would like to thank the 80 National Federations
who have now come forth to support Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and the “One World.
One Vision.” Team!
Despite our opponents underhanded acts of desperation we are heading towards
a great victory of more than 105-110 Federations who are voting for Kirsan Ilyumzhinov!
Meanwhile, our opponent Anatoly Karpov and his team claim to be supported by
23 National Federations. We will provide you with more updates on the National
Federations supporting our team as they become available!
FIDE president comes for Umada Chess Cup
The president of the World Chess Federation and also president of the Republic
of Kalmykia, His Excellency Kirsan Ilyumzhinov will be gracing the shores of
Trinidad and Tobago for the inaugural Umada Cup international tournament. This
will be a special occasion for the chess fraternity as the current FIDE (Federacion
Internacional des Echecs) president announced this new tournament – to
take place every year in this region – will have an organisation and prize
fund of US $40,000.
The Trinidad and Tobago Chess Association (TTCA) on behalf of the FIDE president
will be hosting the tournament at the Cascadia Hotel Conference Room from the
August 14 to August 18. The term 'Umada' is the Garifuna word for friendship,
while Garifuna is an Arawak language that originated from the island of St.
Vincent but is actually spoken in Belize, Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala.
Full report in
the Trinidad Express Newspapers
All ChessBase
report on the FIDE Elections 2010
